Method of sealing joints



Oc't'.v'1`8, 1932. J. E. BoYNroN 1,882,757

METHOD OF SEALING JOINTS Original Filed June 9. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 18, 1932. J. E. BoYNToN MTHOD 0F SEALING JOINTS Original Filed Jung 9, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. E. BoYNToN METHOD OF SEALING JOINTS Oct. 18, 1932.

original Filed June 9, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 spect to the 4 vent leakage between the plungers Patented Oct. 18, 1932 UNITED STATESA PATENT OFFICE JOHN EDSON IBOYNTON,

OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK 'METHOD OF SEALING JOINTS Original application iiled June 9,

This invention relates to a method of sealing joints, and more particularly to a method of sealing the joints of extrusion apparatus, and is a division of my copending application Serial No. 284,17 8, filed June 9, 1928, for method of sealing joints and containers, and apparatus for pumping material.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, eective and certain method of seal-` ing joints.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an improved packing for pumps; to pack a pump by means of the matter handled thereby; and to provide an effective seal against leakage of fused metal between relatively movable parts. Y

A preferred form of the invention is embodied in an extruding machine for sheathing cable cores and comprising a plurality of pumps which receive fused metallic matter from a common supply thereof and force the fused matter into an annular chamber, the annular chamber having a discharge opening. A die is adjustably supported with redischarge opening. A core tube projecting into the annular chamber and aligned with the die provides means by way of which a cable core may pass through the chamber so that matter forced into the annular chamber by the Vpumps will sheathe the core, the machine being so designed that the matter reverts to its solid state before it comes into contact with the core.

The fused metallic matter is supplied to the pumps by way of a common manifold, the pumps comprising a plurality of check valves which are particularly adapted to control the flow of the fused matter to the pumps. Other valves are provided for preventing a back fiow from the annularchamber to the pumps, and the pumps are so driven that fused matter is being forced continuouslyinto the annular chamber whenever the machine is forming a sheath upon a cable core.

The pumps are packed by means of the matter being extruded, that is, a portion of p the matter is solidified and employed to preand their respective cylinders. In one form of the D invention, the matter is collected and solidi- 1928, Serial No. 284,178. Divided and this application led December 4,

1928. Serial No. 323,604.

fied in pockets formed in the cylinder walls, and in another form of the invention, each' of the plungers is adapted to carry a quantity of the matter in a solidified state in such a position that it prevents leakage between the plunger and its cylinder.

The core when it leaves the extruding machine is enclosed in a sheath of the solidified matter. The several pumps are disposed around the axis of the annular chamber in such manner that substantially equal pressures are obtained in all parts thereof so that the matter extruded from substantially uniform density and texture. The pumps preferably comprise cylinders which project from a housing surrounding the annular chamber. The inner ends of the cylinders communicate directly with the annular chamber. The outer ends of the cylinders are free to move when the cylinders contract or expand in response to variations in the temperature thereof, or when the cylinders move radially with respect to the axis of the annular chamber during 'temperature changes in the extruding machine, as plungers slidably journaled in the cylinders are reciprocated by means mounted independently of the cylinders. This construction insures that deformation of the cylinders will not be occasioned when the temperature of the cylinders varies from the temperature of other parts of the machine.

The annular chamber comprises acylindrij cal portion intermediate its ends, one of the ends being contracted to form the ldischarge opening` and the other end being flared to receive the discharge openings of the pumps. The cylindrical portion of the annular chamber permits a relatively large quantity of matter to be stored under pressure in the chamber and permits the metal or the matter to be solidified at a point relatively remote from the Vdischarge aperture, it being readily understood that the solidified matter can be displaced longitudinally in the cylindrical ortion of the chamber with much less effort than it could be displaced i'n a chamber hav- In line with the above roing converging walls. construction, a plurality of means 1s vided for controlling the temperature o the matter as it passes along the cylindrical pory tion of the annular chamber, the means being regulatable to supply heat to or to withdraw heat from the matter being extruded. These means permit the operator to cause a change in the state of the matter at any desired point in the annular chamber. l e Other objects of the invention will become ap arent as the detail description progresses, rev erence being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section through an extruding machine which embodies the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the extruding machine looking from the left in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged central longitudinal section of one of a pluralityof lpumps which form parts of the extruding machine;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4, and

' Fig. 6 is a central longitudinal section through a pump which, if so desired, may be rmployed in place of the pump shown in it is believed that a complete understanding of the improved method will be procured by a description of the means by whichl it is performed.

Referring Ato the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, the reference character 10 designates a base plate upon which is mounted the mechanism of an extruding machine embodying the invention.

' The reference character 11 designates generally a head which is disposed at one end of the base plate 10 and is rigidly secured thereto by a plurality of bolts 12. The head 11 comprises a tubular block 13, which together with a back plate 14, forms an annular chamber 15, the back` plate 14 being rigidly secured,

tp the tubular block 13 by ,means o'f a plurality of bolts 16 (Fig. 3). It will be noted that the annular chamber 15 comprises a cylindrical portion 17 intermediate its ends, one of the ends being contractedpto form a discharge opening 18, and the other end being flared as at 19. The advantage of this construction will be explained hereinafter, but for the present it will sutlice to state that the annular chamber 15 forms a passage for the` matter to be extruded, the discharge opening 18 of the annular passage having associated therewith acore tube 20 and a die 21. The die21 threadedly engages a die holder 22 and is provided at its outer ends with aplurality of flattened sides 23 adapted to receive a wrench, which may be used to bring the die' into a plurality of adjusted positions with respect to thecore tube 20.

The die holder 22 is interposed between the tubular block 13 and a clamping p1ate-24 which may be'adjusted by meansof a pluralityqof bolts 25 into a position wherein it exerts suiicient pressure upon the die holder 22 to prevent displacement thereof relative to the discharge opening 18. The clamping plate 24 carries means for laterally adjusting the die holder 22. This means comprises a plurality of bolts 26 which engage the periphery of the die holder and may be used to effect lateral adjustment of the die holder, it being understood that it is necessary to loosen the bolts 25 when such lateral adjustment of the die holder 22 is to be made.` It is apparent that the die holder 22, the clamping plate 24, and the associated bolts 25'and 26 constitute means whereby the die 21 may be adjusted laterally and longitudinally `with respect to the axis of the core tube20, the axis of the core tube 20 being coincident with the axis of the'annular chamber 15. This f construction permits the die 21 to be aligned accurately with respect to the discharge opening, and at the same time permits the operator tocontrol the cross-sectional area of a,

stream of matter being extruded from the machine.

The core tube 20 may be -adjustedlongitudinally of its axis, the core tube being slidably and rotatably journaled in a sleeve 27 formed integral with the back plate 14. The

means for adjusting the core tube longitudinally of its axis comprises a sleeve 28 with which the core tube makes threaded engagement. The sleeve 28 is screw threaded into the 'sleeve 27 and at its rearwardly extending end is provided with a plurality of flattened surfaces 29 adapted to be engaged by awrench which may be employed to brmg the sleeve 28 and the core tube 20, as a unit into shown), or which may be drawn through the machine by matter being extruded from the machine. Since the die 21 may be brought into a position wherein its axis is coincident with the axis of the core tube, it follows that any matter extruded by way of the discharge opening 18 will form a sheath of uniform thickness around the cable core. The cable core, of course, will be drawn through the machinelat a rate of speed proportional to the rate of speed at which the matter is ex truded between the coretube and the die.

The annular chamber 15 is continuously supplied vwith matter be extruded, the

matter being forced into the annular chamber under sufficient pressure to cause it to be extruded between the core tube and the die. This means for supplying the annular chamber with matter to be extruded includes a plurality of pumps 31, each of the pumps 31 comprising a cylinder 32 having a substantially central bore 33. The axes of the several cylinders 32 are disposed parallel to the common axis of the core tube 20, and of the die 21, the bores 33 of the cylinders opening directly into theflared end 19 of the annular chamber 15. As shown in Fig. 3, the axes of the cylinders 32 are substantially equi-distantly spaced from each other and approximately so from the common axis of the core tube and the die. Certain combinations of the cylinders are equi-distantly spaced from each other and from the axis. Therefore, the cylinders of'the pumps may be said to be disposed around the common axis, or may be said to be disposed around the annular chamber 15. Slidably journaled in each of the cylinders 32 is a plunger 34 adapted to be reciprocated therein so that it may force matter, to be extruded, into the annular chamber 15. The matter to be extruded is supplied to the cylinders by Way of a common manifold 35, which is preferably ofsubstantially rectangular form and is connected to a receptacle 36 by means of a pipe 37 (Fig. 2). The receptacle 36 -is adapted to hold a supply of the matter to be extruded,

suitable means (not shown) being provided to keep the matter in a fused state so that it may gravitate byway of the pipe 37 to the manifold 35, and thence to the cylinders 32. A valve 38 disposed in the pipe 37 provides means whereby the operator may control the flow of fused matter to the cylinders.

A plurality of valve devices 40 prevent a back fiow from the cylinders 32 into the manifold 35, one of the valve devices 40 lbeing interposed between each of the cylinders 32 and the common manifold 35 (Fig. 4). Each valve device 40 is disposed in the intake opening of its associated cylinder 32 and comprises a valve cage 41 threaded or otherwise tightly and securely fitted into the intake opening. The valve cage 41 is provided with a central aperture 42, through which the fused matter must pass on its way to the cylinder. Disposed beneath the aperture 42 and retained in substantial alignment therewith is a solid ball 43 manufactured of matter of less specific gravity than that of the fused matter. It is obvious that the ball 43 will tend to float into a position wherein it closes the aperture 42 whenever the cylinder holds a quantit of fused matter.

Means are a so provided for preventing a back'iiow from the annular chamber 15 to the several cylinders 32.l Thus each pump 31 is provided with a check valve 44 which comprises a. valve cage 45 seatedfin the discharge opening of the pump, the valve cage 45 being adapted to retain a ball 46 in the opening. The ball is adapted to engage a valve seat 47 formed in the opening.

From the foregoing detailed description of the pumps, it is apparent that if one of the plungers 34 is reciprocated in its cylinder, there will be an intermittent flow of fused matter from the receptacle 36 through the cylinder, and the'nce to the 15, the balls 43 and 46 acting to control the fiow of fused matter to and from the .cylinder. It is also apparent that the forward strokes of the several plungers 34 may be so timed relative to each other that a continuous fiow of fused matter into the annular chamber 15'is obtained. In this embodiment of the invention the pumps are driven solas to continuously force fused matter in the annular chamber 15 during the extruding operation.

The means for driving the pumps 31 comprises a shaft 50 which is adapted' to drive two vertically disposed through the medium of a plurality of bevel gears 53, the shaft 50 being driven from any suitable source of power (not shown). The vertically disposed shafts 51 and 52 are adapted to drive a horizontally disposed shaft 54, the shaft 54 being operatively connected to the vertically disposed shafts 51 and 52 by means of a plurality of bevel gears 55. The driven shaft 50 and each of the shafts 51, 52 and 54 is rotatably journaled into upright standard 56 rigidly secured to the base plate 10 by a plurality of bolts 57. The standard 56 is securely held in spaced relation with the head 11 by means of a plurality of threaded rods 58 which are rigidly secured to the standard by a plurality of nuts 59 and to the head by a plurality of nuts 60. Each of the several shafts 50, 51, 52 and 54 has rigidly secured to it a plurality of eccentrics 61, each eccentric 61 being aligned with oneof the pumps 31. Each eccentric 61 is operatively connected to the plunger 34 of its associated pump 31 by means of an eccentric rod 62, and an eccentric strap 63. The free end of each eccentric rod 62 is pivoted upon a wrist pin 64 carried by a cross-head 65, which is rigidly of the associated plunger 34.. The crosshead 65 is journaled in a plurality of guides 66 rigidly secured to the outer end of the cylinder 32 of the pump. The guides are virtually integral with the cylinders so that they remain in perfect alignment at all stages of expansion of the machine in general. The eccentric strap 63 preferably comprises a cap 67 andis rotatably journaled upon its eccentric by ing which consists of a plurality of rollers 68 and a cage 69. The employmentof the roller bearing between the eccentric and its strap is advantageous that propcrlubrishafts 51 and 52' secured to theouter end means of a roller bearannular chamber i cation between the eccentric and the strap is insured, it being understood that the eccentrics carry comparatively large loads and that they would tend to drive out any lubricating oil or the like which might be introduced between them and their straps if the roller bearings were not provided. The several eccentrics '61 are so arranged relative tube and its die or to other conditions obtaining at any particular time. .Y

`It vwill be noted that the outer ends of the cylinders 82 are free to move, when the cylinders contract or expand in response to variations in temperature and are xalso free to move when the back plate 14 contracts or expands, thus causing the cylinders to move in and out radially with respect to the axis of the annular chamber 15. As the guides 66 are mounted on the outer ends of the cylinders 32 and are not supported by any other means, they are also free to move when they or their respective cylinders move in response to variations in temperature. This const-ruction is provided to prevent deformation .of the cylinders 32 and distortion of the guides 66 when the temperature of the head 11 and the mechanism associated directly therewith varies from the temperature of the standard 56 and the driving mechanism mounted thereon.

Means is provided for packing each of the pumps 31,the means in -each instance comprising a pocket or annular recess 70 (Fig. 4) turned in a collar 71 which is threaded into an enlargement of the bore 33 of the pump and may be consideredI a portion of the cylinder thereof. The annular recess 70 is adapted to collect and retain any fused matter seeking to escape through the clearance which must be provided between each plunger andthe wall of its associated cylinder. The matter so collectedtends to revert to its solid state, but to insure such a change of state, an annular chamber 72 is provided in the collar 71 into which a cooling fluid may be introduced b v means comprising a plurality of nozzles 73 having central passages which connect the chamber 72 (Fig. 5). It is readily understood that flexible hose or the like (not shown) may be vfitted over the nozzles 7 3 to connect the nozzles with any suitable supply of cooling fluid, and that means (not shown) may be provided for causing forced circulation of the cooling fluid i through the annular chamber 72. Cooling recava? fluid so introduced into the annular chamber 72 will lower the temperature of any fused matter collected in the annular recess 70 and cause it to solidify. The solidified matter will then pack the pump.

The pumps 31 are mounted in the head 11 in an improved manner, each pump comprising a frusto-conical head 74 adapted to seat in a similarly shaped aperture 75 formed in the back plate 14 (Figs. 1 and 4). Each pump is provided with a nut 76 threaded up- .on its cylinder and adapted to engage the back plate 14 to prevent displacement of the pump relative to the eccentric and also the manifold. The arrangement is such that the pressure which obtains in the annular chamber 15 tends to force the frusto-conical head against its seat, and as this construction permits the heads to be ground into the seats, it

.is obvious that a perfect seal will result in solidify the fused matter at any desired point in the annular chamber 15. Thus the coils 78 associated with the flared end 19 of the annular chamber 15 could be supplied with aheating fiuidto prevent solidification of the fused matter, and the remaining coils could be provided with a cooling fluid of proper temperature to cause the fused matter to re-v vert to its solid state as it enters the cylindrical portion 17. A suliicient 'supply of a matter in its solid state would then be stored in the annular chamber to negative the possibility tha-tany matter might pass out in its fused state through the extrusion aperture. Comparatively little power is required Ato move the solid matter along the cylindrical portion 17 because this portion of the chamber 1 5 has a constant cross-section.

Fig. 6 illustrates one of a plurality of punfps which may be employed in place of the pumps shown in Fig. 1. Thus a pump v79 is shown, which comprises a cylinder 8O having an extension 81, the cylinder 80 and the extension 81 having aligned bores 82 and 83 respectively.l A 'plunger 84 adapted to reciprocate in the bore 83 carries means at ICO its forward end for holding or retaining a quantity of the matter which is being eX- truded. The means preferably comprises a plurality of annular grooves 85 in which lthe matter may collect and solidify, the solidified matter being then held in aposition wherein it packs the' cylinder. Of course the pump is so designed that a comparatively low temperature will obtain in the extension 81 as compared with the temperature obtaining in the cylinder 80, and the plunger 84: is not brought into a position wherein the' fused metal passing from the intake opening of the pump to the discharge opening thereof may fuse the matter solidified upon the forward end of the plunger. In Fig. 6 the plunger 84 is provided with a cross-head 86 slidably journaled in guides 87 rigidily secured to the cylinder 80. The guides 87 are so arranged that air may circulate about the extension 81 to keep it at a temperature below the temperature of the cylinder 80. y

In the operation of the device a supply of the matteil to be extruded is fused in the receptacle 36 and one end of the cable core 30 is threaded through the core tube 20 and the die 21, one end of the core being introduced into the core tube 20 by way of the sleeve 28. The valve 38 is then opened and the extruding machine set in operation. The fused matter flows to the several pumps 31 byway of the pipe 37 and the manifold 35, and the pumps force the fused matter into the flared end 19 of the annular chamber 15. The matter solidifies as it passes through the cylindrical portion 17 of the annular chamber and is formed by the core tube and the die into a. sheath which encloses the cable core being drawn through the machine. This process is continuous as the receptacle 36 may be charged from time to time so that the pumps can continue indefinitely to force fused matter into the annular chamber 15. The length of the core and not the size of the receptacle 36 would in a manner determine the capacity of the extruding machine. V

Wha-t is claimed is: e

1. A method of packing a reciprocating pump for fused metal, which consists in causing the pumping pressure to force a mass of the metal being pumped into a recess formed in one of the relatively reciprocable parts of the pump, solidifying said mass to form a packing having a, surface slidable relative to the other of the relatively reciprocable parts, and causing additional quantities of the metal to adhere t0 the slidable surface to annular recess in the piston of the pump, which comprises so cooling therein a mass of the molten lead alloy being pumped as to cause the mass to conform to the shape of the recess and of the cylinder, the mass providing bearing surface for the piston.

4. The method of preventing leakage between two relatively movable members of a pump for a liquefied crystallizable substance which consists in collecting between said members an annular mass of the liquefied substance being pumped and changing the physical state of the mass to a solid to cause v it to form a seal between the members.

5. The method of preventing leakage between a fixed and a movable member of a pump, which consists of forcing an annular mass of the material being pumped longitudinally between the fixed and the `movable member and causing the material to solidify and adhere to the movable member so as to be movable therewith and form a seal between the members.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 24th day of November A. D.,

JOHN EDSON BOYNTON.

compensate for the wearing away of said mass.

2. A method of packing a reciprocating pump for fused metal, which consists in causing the pumping pressure to force a mass of the metal being pumped into a recess formed in one of the relatively reciprocable parts of the pump, solidifying said mass to form a packing having a surface slidable relative to the other of the relatively reciprocable parts, and causing additional quantities of the metal to pass longitudinally of the reciprocable parts and adhere to the slidable surface to compensate for the wearing away of said mass.

3. The method of packing a reciprocating pump for molten lead alloy, there being an 

